Ledger Begins Shipping Its Next-Gen Hardware Crypto Wallet

Reasona French startup known primarily for its secure cryptographic hardware wallets has started shipping new wallets almost 18 months later advertising the latest Ledger Stax devices.

The updated wallet features an E-Ink display and was designed in partnership with Tony Fadell, one of the iPod’s lead designers. E-Ink technology is generally used for e-book readers like the Amazon Kindle or Rakuten Kobo because the displays look good in daylight and don’t require a lot of power.

After fulfilling all pre-orders, the company will list the Ledger Stax on its website as soon as it has more stock available. The reason the hardware wallet was delayed is that the company may have over-promised on the design. The Ledger Stax has a curved E-Ink screen. He said it has been more difficult than expected to produce curved E-Ink screens on a large scale.

So what makes Ledger Stax different from other Ledger wallets, the Nano S Plus and the NanoX? Unlike these two devices, the Ledger Stax features a larger display with a secure touchscreen that interacts directly with the secure element of the device. It’s supposedly easier to use than the arrow buttons on other Ledger devices.

While the Nano S Plus only works with a USB-C cable, the Nano X and Stax also have a Bluetooth chip. This means you can initiate a crypto transaction from your phone and validate it in your crypto wallet – no bank transfer required.

With this new portfolio, Ledger is also targeting sophisticated clients. The company sold the Ledger Stax for 279 euros during the pre-order phase (about 300 dollars at today’s exchange rate). It wouldn’t confirm the wallet’s final retail price, so you’ll have to wait for it to become available again on its website.

Thanks to the curved display, customers can display some information on the spine of the device, even when it is turned off. This can be particularly useful for companies and individuals who have multiple hardware wallets and want to stack them. The Ledger Stax also has built-in magnets for easy alignment and supports Qi wireless charging.

When it comes to security, all Ledger products are based on a secure element where your wallet’s private keys are safely stored. They never leave their crypto wallets, meaning even if your computer or phone is compromised, your assets are safe. However, most crypto hacks are phishing attempts – and Ledger cannot protect you against social engineering and scams.

If you lose your device, you can recover your wallet using a recovery passphrase. The company also offers a subscription product if you are not comfortable with recovery phrases.

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Interestingly, Ledger Stax also marks the beginning of a production partnership with Foxconn, the consumer electronics manufacturing company. Previously, Ledger assembled its devices in Vierzon, France – but the Nano S Plus and Nano X devices will still be manufactured in Vierzon.

Ledger said it has sold more than 6 million devices to date and the company estimates it protects about a fifth (20%) of the world’s crypto assets.